Brachytherapy

Identifying and definitional attributes
Metadata item type:	Glossary Item
METEOR identifier:	594080
Registration status:	Health, Standard 14/05/2015
Definition:	A form of radiotherapy where a sealed source of radiation is placed inside or next to the area requiring treatment. Brachytherapy involves the placement of a capsule containing a radioisotope that emits short-range radiation at the site of the malignant tumour. This allows the radiation to kill the surrounding tissue while preventing the radioisotope from moving or dissolving, and limiting the exposure of healthy tissue to radiation. Brachytherapy is a common treatment for prostate, cervical, skin and breast cancer, and can be used for the treatment of tumours at many other sites.

Source and reference attributes
Submitting organisation:	Cancer Australia
Relational attributes
Metadata items which use this glossary item:	Cancer treatment—brachytherapy dose rate Health, Standard 04/02/2015 Cancer treatment—brachytherapy dose rate, code N Health, Standard 04/02/2015 Cancer treatment—brachytherapy indicator, yes/no code N Health, Standard 14/05/2015 Prostate cancer (clinical) NBPDS Health, Standard 14/05/2015